25 Days of Gear: Fantastic Flannels

Carhartt's Flannel-Lined Washed Twill Dungaree
($50, carhartt.com)
I was recently returning a rental car in North Dakota after freezing paddling trip. There was a blizzard outside and the wind chill was way below zero. One of the employees came out of the cold and asked his co-worker, "Do they make insulated dress pants?" I pointed down at the flannel-lined Carhartts I was wearing. Although it might be a stretch to call the Twill Dungarees "dress pants" in some circles, they fit the bill for a dirtbag paddler. With silky soft fabric that's about as far from traditional work pant canvas as you can get and an extra layer of insulation, I've worn the Twill Dungarees around the campfire on a chilly canoe trip one week and to air-conditioned office meeting the next.

Mountain Khakis Christopher Fleece Lined Shirt
($110, mountainkhakis.com)
The Christopher Shirt from Mountain Khakis looks like your everyday flannel but its ultra soft fleece lining makes it warmer than the average shirt. Pearl snaps make it easy to put on and take off. Although the fleece is soft against the skin, I usually wear the Christopher over another shirt to keep the fleece from picking up odors if I end up moving while wearing it. The fit is generous so double check the size chart and consider sizing down. I'm 5'10″ and at 170 lbs the medium fits me perfectly.

What I love about the Christopher is that I can take it with me as a comfortable camp layer on multi-day raft trips but I’ll still look classy when wearing it back in civilization.